Diamond Bar, CA., - There are several reasons why more people don’t ride their bikes to work – 1) they’re fearful of busy intersections and riding on main boulevards, 2) it’s inconvenient, takes too much time and there are no shower accommodations and 3) bicyclists often have a difficult time figuring out exactly how to get from point A to point B on their bike.
In an effort to eliminate some of these obstacles, the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC), a government group who funds transportation-related clean air projects, has earmarked $400,000 to fund an interactive, internet-based bicycle route and map system. The system will provide real-time bike route information based on point of origin and destination markers, as well as identify bike facilities and accommodations such as drinking fountains and restrooms along the way. Once a user inputs their origin and destination, the system will provide directions in a turn-by-turn format. If there is no designated bike path, the system will suggest a route based on considerations including traffic volume, posted speed limits and avoiding steep grades. Bike routes for the entire South Coast Basin covering Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside County will be included.
Although there are a number of traditional, hard copy bike maps available, they often cover smaller regions and the maps are sometimes incomplete, according to MSRC Chairman and Palm Springs Mayor William Kleindienst.
“We know that one of the obstacles for commuting bicyclists is not having complete map and road directions,” he said. “A real-time system with up-to-the-minute road conditions will provide bikers with a high level of confidence that they can travel safely from home to work and back. And, every time we take a car off the road we’re cutting pollution.”
Bike enthusiasts including the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, a membership based advocacy organization, say an online bike map system will help stimulate bike ridership.
“Both experienced and novice cyclists will find great use in an internet-based bicycle routing system,” said Ron Milam, executive director, LACBC.
The MSRC expects to award the competitive bid project late this fall.